Fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the high costs of skins in Black Ops 6, especially following the announcement of the upcoming crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Dive deeper to understand why some fans are expressing dissatisfaction with Activision's monetization strategy!
Black Ops 6 Facing Backlash From Fans
BO6 Expensive Crossover TMNT Skins
The excitement surrounding Black Ops 6's latest crossover event with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) during its Season 2 Reloaded has been overshadowed by the steep prices of the skins. Fans are voicing their disappointment over the cost to unlock the iconic turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello—each priced at $20. Additionally, Master Splinter's skin is available for $10 through the Battlepass Premium Track. When you add the $10 TMNT-themed weapon blueprint, the total cost for all these items reaches a staggering $100.
What's particularly frustrating for fans is that Black Ops 6 is not a free-to-play game; it retails at $69.99. This has led to comparisons with games like Fortnite, where a similar TMNT bundle was available for $25. As Reddit user neverclaimsurv pointed out, "That is INSANE. In Fortnite, I think I paid $25.00 for all 4 turtles, and that’s a free game."
Moreover, the longevity of these skins is in question. Given that Activision typically releases new Black Ops games annually, it's unlikely that these skins will carry over to future installments. This concern was echoed by Reddit user SellMeYourSirin, who noted, "It has everything to do with the fact a full price game (that’s likely gonna be replaced within the next year) has THREE tiers of battle passes." The game offers a free tier, but the other two tiers require additional payment.
As the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, Black Ops 6 is poised to continue its trend of paid crossover events. However, a shift in this approach might be possible if the fan base exerts enough pressure.
Black Ops 6’s Mixed Steam Review
Black Ops 6 currently holds a mixed rating on Steam, with only 47% of the 10,696 reviews recommending the game. The dissatisfaction extends beyond the expensive skins to include technical issues and gameplay concerns. Players like Steam user LemonRain have reported severe crashing problems, stating, "this game has had problems with hard crashing since launch, but the latest update has made it so I can’t complete a single match. Reinstalling. Safe mode. Support. Nothing works and I have given up."
Additionally, the presence of hackers in multiplayer modes has been a significant grievance. Some players have encountered hackers who can instantly kill all enemies without even starting the match, leading to frustrating experiences. One player mentioned waiting 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with hackers.
In a unique form of protest against Activision's increasing use of AI, some users have turned to AI chatbots like ChatGPT to generate their negative reviews. Steam user Rundur shared, "Since Activision can't be bothered hiring real people anymore, I've decided to take advantage of AI myself and ask ChatGPT to write this negative review for me. Enjoy."
Despite these issues, Black Ops 6 continues to generate significant revenue, largely driven by its costly battle passes, which stand out as more expensive compared to other shooter games.
